Automobile pilot headlight



Jan. 31; 192s. 1,657,907

J. A. THOMAS AUTOMOBILE PILOT HEADLIGHT Filed Feb. l. 1926 Patented Jan. 3l, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUToMoBiLn PILOT HEADLIGHT.

Application ledrebruary 1, 1926. Serial No. 85,191.

The object of myinvention is to provide a pilot light for automobiles which is simple, durable and of comparatively inexpensive construction.

More particularly my invention relates to a pilot light adapted to be arranged just forwardly of the automobile radiator and between the two ordinarv head lights of the automobile. and capable of pivotal movement and operated from the steering shaft of the automobile.

` Still a further object is to mount a cam or notched member on the steering shaft of an automobile wherein the amount of pivotal movement of the pilot light is controlled by the depth of the notch in the notch member or` cam.

r Still a further object is to provide a'pilot rangement and combination of the variousl parts of my invention, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which.:

Figure 1, is a top. plan View of portion f of an automobile with myimproved pilot light mounted thereon, parts being broken away and shown in section to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 2, is a side View of my pilot light installed upon an automobile.

Figure 3, is a detail sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 and 1 Figure 4, is a detail` sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

In the accompanying drawingsI have used the reference numeral 10 to indicate generally an automobile having a pair of head lights 11.y Theheadlights 11n are connected together by -a cross brace or bar 12 and it is upon this bar that I mount my pilot light. V

iThe automobile 10 includes an ordinary steering ost or shaft 13 whichis operatively connecte to the front wheels of an automobile in the ordinary manner.

The automobile 10 includes the' engine block 14 and the radiator 15.

Fixed to the cross brace or bar 12 is a supporting bracket 16. The supporting bracket 16 has a yoke 17 pivotally mounted thereon and mounted `in the yoke 17 is the pilot light 18. A

The pilot light 18 is `tixed relative to the yoke 17 and rotates therewith. v

` A lever 19 extends from one side of the yoke 17 `and has connected toit a rod 20. The rod 2O extends' rearwardly `through the radiator 15 and has its free end connected to a. bell crank lever 21. The bell crank lever 21 is formed with a plurality of openings 22 one of which may receive the rod 20.

The bell crank. lever A21 is mounted upon a bracket 23 fixed to the engine 14 j by one of the ordinary bolts or by a stud bolt 24.

When a stud bolt 24 is used I mount a supporting arm 25thereon. The supportl ing arm 25 is adjustable by means of a socket and screw threaded connecting portion 26.

A lock nut 27 is employed for holding parts of the arm 25 in their extended or adjusted positions. j f I Pivotally mounted on the arm 25 isa rod 28 having a point member 29 secured to its lower end and held by the set screw 8O and lzdjustment is thereby obtainedfor the mem- The point member maybe of hard steel or may be formed integrally with the rod 28. The rod 28 is pivoted `to the arm 25 at 31.A The upper end of the rod 28 is connected Yto the bell crank lever 21 by a link 32. The

link 32'is extensible andV adjustable` andfor this purpose the socket and screw threaded portion 33 are provided. i

The link 32 is pivotally 'connectedlto the upper end of the rod 28' at one end and to the bell crank lever at its other end.

From the description of the partsjust described it will Abe noted that the arm 25 the bell Crank leverf21rand link-'32.

Secured to the steeringpost 13 adjacent vthe lower end of the rod 28 or point 29 lis notched member or cam 34. The' notched member 34 may be made of a pair of halves and clamped around the steering post 13 and secured into position by bolts or the like 35.

` The member 84 is formed with a. notch 36 into which extends the point 29 ofthe rod'28.

The arm 25 extends beyond the pointedl llU connection with the rod QS and to this ei:- tended end is a double acting leaf spring 87.

The spring 3T bears against the rod 28 above and below th'epivot point 31 to canse the light 18 to maintain a centered position.

Rotation of the steering shaft 13 inthe direction indicated by the arrow 3S will cause the rod 2S to swing on its pivot and assume the position shown in dotted lilies in Figure 1 ot' the drawings.

Movement of Vthe rod :28 will also impart movement to the link 32, the bell crank lever 21 and the rod 20.

Pushing the rod Qt) forwardly or pulling it rearwardly will impart swinging or pivotal movement to the pilot light- 1S.

Movement of the parts to the position shown in dotted lines in Figurey 3 of the d 'awings will cause the rod :20 to push forwardly and this will turn the pilot light so that it throws alight to the right.

The dotted line position ol the rod and the yoke 17 is shown in Figure l ot the drawings.

It will be noted that the notch 3' determines the amount of throw or pivotal movement of the pilot light 18.

If the steering shaft 13 were rotated to position where the notch would come as indicated by the dotted lines 30 in Figure 3, there would be no greater amount ot' pivotal movement ofthe pilot light 1S than it the steering shaft 13 were rotated only a quarter turn.

The amount of throw is governed by the notch 36 and since the rod 28 or point 29 are free of the notch 36 any further movement will merely cause the rod 28 to ride upon the periphery of the member 31 not in any way affecting the further movement of the pilot light.

The travel or riding of the arm 2S upon the periphery of the member 8% insures the pilot light to remain in positive turned position as the actual turn oi the steering shaft takes place.

In other words, the pilot light is quickly turned Iand quickly brought back to its original position regardless of the amount of turning o'r the slowness of turning the. steering shaft.

It will be noted that the parts are adjustably connected and that I have shown the parts mounted upon the engine blockand in this connection it. will be understood that the mounting of the movable parts for con- 'netting the notch member 34 with the pilot light 18 may be changed or mounted in other places depending upon the particular type and make ot automobile.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement oi the various parts ot iny invention, without departing i'rom the real spirit and purpose ot my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modiiied forms ot structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. An automobile pilot light in combination with an automobile comprising a light pivotally mounted, means for rotating said light, .said means including a notched inember on the steering shaftol the automobile, a bell crank lever, means for connecting one end of the lever with the light. and the other end with the notched member wliereby rotation of the notched member will impart a predetermined amount ol `pivotal movement to said light, after which further rotation of the steering shaft will maintain said light in such position.

2. An automobile pilot light. coi'nprising a light pivotally mounted, meansl YFor rotating said light, said means includiiw a notched member iixed to the steering .silla'lt ot the automobile and adapted to rotate therewith, a rod extended into the notch in said notched member, means for connecting said rod 4with the light, the parts being so arranged that partial rotation of the steering sha-tt will cause said rod to move out ot' the. notch thereby causing pivotal movement ol' the light to a predetermined position and fm'- ther rotation of the steering shaft will maintain said light in such position.

3. In a device ot' the class de.-;erihed in combination with an automobile, a pilot light pivotally mounted` means oi.' cornicetion between the .pilot light and the steering shaft. of the automobile, said means'includ ing a notched member on the steering shalt. a spring actuated rod pivotally mounted and having one end received in the notched ineinber and the other end operatively connected with said light wherebj.v movement ol the notched member will impart movement lo said rod for imparting movement lo said light, said rod in said notched member determining the amount of pivotal movement oi" the light', said rod being extensible tor vaiving such amount.

Des doines, lowa. December l?. i995.

JAMES a. frifionas. 

